Upper body support system

ABSTRACT

An upper body support system for a vehicle seat provides support of a person&#39;s head and body via a body portion that extends down along the seat back rest from a stabilizer portion that extends over the top of the seat. The body portion may extend down a substantial portion of the back rest to provide support of the person&#39;s upper body. The bottom end of the support is secured by a base strap that is configured to form an anchor loop that is couple with a seat anchor of the vehicle seat. The top of the support is secured to a pair of head rest posts by a head rest strap assembly. This arrangement of securing the top and bottom of the support provides effective stability for a person to lean there against and enables the body portion to be configured in an offset angle from vertical for comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an upper body support system for a vehicle seatthat provides support of a person's head and body via a body portionthat extends down along the seat back rest from a stabilizer portionthat extends over the top of the seat.

Background

There are a number of auxiliary head rest devices configured to couplewith various components of a vehicle seat, such as the seatbelt or headrest, to provide support of a person's head. These devices extend down ashort distance to a free end. Children that no longer are required tosit in a child or booster seat are often too short to utilize theseauxiliary head rest devices as they are too short for proper support.Also, only supporting the head can in some cases put strain on the neck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an upper body support system for a vehicleseat that provides support of a person's head and body via a bodyportion that extends down along the seat back rest from a stabilizerportion that extends over the top of the seat. The body portion and thestabilizer portion may be a monolithic support that provides support forboth the head and body and is stabilized in position by the stabilizerportion extending back over the top of the seat. The body portion mayextend down a substantial portion of the back rest to provide support ofthe person's body, such as their shoulder, for example. In addition, theextended end of the body portion is secured by a base strap that isconfigured to couple with a seat anchor of the vehicle seat. The top ofthe monolithic support is secured to a pair of head rest posts by a headrest strap assembly. This arrangement of securing the monolithic supportat the top and at the bottom provides effective support for a person tolean there against. Also, the body portion may be secured in an offsetangle from vertical to provide for a more comfortable support forsleeping, for example.

A vehicle seat may be an automobile seat having required seat belts andseat anchors for the connection of car seats thereto. An automobile maybe a truck, car, bus and the like. A vehicle seat may however beconfigured in an aircraft, train, ship or boat including a ferry and thelike. A seat anchor may be any portion of the seat configured preferablyproximal to the bottom of the back rest such as between the back restand the seat portion of the seat, having a complete or partial loop thatis effective to retain the base strap. In an automobile seat, the seatanchor is most often a complete loop that is configured down between theback rest and the seat portion and is typically coupled to the frame ofthe vehicle seat.

The upper body support system is configured to secure a monolithicsupport including a body portion and a stabilizer portion in position toeffectively support a person's body during transport. The body portionand the stabilizer portion are a monolithic support that has the eitherthe body portion and the stabilizer portion attached together to formsaid monolithic support, or are made from a single piece of material,such as foam, wherein the foam is cut from a single piece of material orformed as a single piece of material. A foam, such as a polyurethane orother polyolefin type foam may be formed or cut from a single piece offoam. A cover may be configured over the foam for comfort. The foam maybe soft for comfort but stable enough for adequate support and may havea hardness of about 50 Shore A or less, about 40 Shore A or less, about30 Shore A or less, about 20 Shore OO or more, about 30 Shore OO ormore, about 40 Shore OO or more and any range between and including thevalues provided.

The body portion has a geometry to provide support of a person's headand body and to prevent tilting of the body portion during use. Anexemplary body portion is configured to extend down a substantialportion of the back rest such as about 50% or more of the height of theback rest, about 60% or more, about 70% or more, about 80% or more,about 90% or more, up to 100% and any range between and including thepercentages provided. The upper body support system is configured tosupport a person's body and therefore is required to extend down farenough for this purpose. Also, many children would require the bodyportion to extend down a substantial portion of the back rest for properbody support, as they are not that tall. The body portion may have alength of about 0.3 m or more, about 0.5 m or more, about 0.7 m or more,about 1 m or less and any range between and including the valuesprovided. The body portion may have a width that is wide enough toprovide effective cushioning and support when a person leans on the bodysupport and may be about 7.5 cm or more, about 10 cm or more, about 12.5cm or more, about 15 cm or more and any range between and including thewidth values provided. The length of the body portion may be muchgreater than the width of the body portion, such as about three times ormore, about four times or more, about five times or more, or even aboutsix times or eight times or more, or any range between and including theratios provided. The body portion has a height that is large enough toeffectively support a person's head and body and may be about 7.5 cm ormore, about 10 cm or more, about 12.5 cm or more, about 15 cm or moreand any range between and including the height provided. The bodyportion may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape taken along alength axis of the body portion, wherein the body portion has planarsides, seat surface and top surface, opposite the seat surface.Likewise, the stabilizer portion may also have a rectangularcross-sectional shape along a length axis of the stabilizer portion andhave a planar seat surface, sides extending up from the seat surface andtop surface, opposite the seat surface.

The stabilizer portion is configured to extend over the top of the seatto stabilize the body portion from tilting when a person leans againstit. The seat surface of the stabilizer portion and the seat surface ofthe body portion may be planar to resist tilting of the support duringuse. The stabilizer portion may extend generally orthogonally from thelength axis of the body portion to form an L-shaped support, that may bea monolithic support as described herein. Orthogonally, as used herein,is defined as within about 20 degrees of orthogonal, wherein the planarseat surface of the stabilizer extends within 20 degrees of orthogonalfrom the seat surface of the body portion. This orthogonal orientationmay provide better stability of the support when configured over the topof the back rest with the body portion extending down along the backrest. The length axis of the body portion extends from the bottom end ofthe body portion up to the stabilizer portion. The stabilizer portionmay have a length to effectively extend over the top of the seat and maybe about 10 cm or more, abut 15 cm or more, about 20 cm or more about 25cm or more and any range between and including the length valuesprovided. The stabilizer portion may have a width that is substantiallythe same as the width of the body portion and may be about 7.5 cm ormore, about 10 cm or more, about 12.5 cm or more, about 15 cm or moreand any range between and including the width values provided.

The support, including the stabilizer portion and body portion, may beretained in a desired position on a vehicle seat by the head rest strapassembly and the base strap. The head rest strap assembly may include afirst strap extension and a second strap extension, each configured toextend from the support around a head rest post to form a separate postloop. The first strap extension and second strap extension each have ahead rest fastener, such as a buckle, that is configured to detachablyattach with a head rest fastener coupler, such as a buckle receiver, toform a post loop. This configuration of two head rest straps forming twoseparate post loops around head rest posts on opposing sides of thesupport may be an effective way to secure the support in a fixedposition between the two head rest posts. A first post loop may beshorter than the second post loop, such as by about 20% or more, about40% or more, about 60% or more and any range between and including thepercentages provided. A short first post loop and longer second postloop will position the monolithic support closer to the first posthaving the first post loop extending therearound. Also, the first andsecond post loops may have a head rest strap slider that enables thelength of the post loop to be changed to pull the post loop tight abouta head rest post. Again, this opposing arrangement of the two post loopsaround separate head rest posts enables each to be pulled tight to andto a separate length to change a position of the monolithic supportbetween the two head rest posts. The monolithic support can be movedlaterally closer to one of the head rest posts. Note that a single strapextending from the support and around the two head rest posts would notallow securing the support in a lateral or horizontal position betweenthe two head rest posts.

The base strap extends from a position proximal to the bottom end of thebody portion and is configured to extend through a seat anchor and backto a base fastener coupler, which may be configured on a base couplerstrap. Two separate base straps may extend from body portion and eachmay have a base strap slider to enable tightening of the base strap topull the bottom of the body portion closer to a seat anchor. This mayallow the support and the body portion to be configured at an offsetangle from vertical, which may be more comfortable for supportingperson's body. In an exemplary embodiment, the base fastener and basefastener couplers are not configured to latch with a seatbelt buckle orseatbelt receiver and may be of a different size and latch differentlyfrom a seat belt buckle.

The body portion may be soft and as it may be made out of foam, may havea tendency to flex or bend when a force is applied orthogonally to thelength axis of the body portion. To resist this deflection and toprovide additional support and rigidity, a coupler extension strap mayextend along the length of the body portion from the stabilizer portion,wherein the coupler extension strap is coupled with the head rest strapassembly, to the bottom end of the body portion, wherein it may becoupled with the base strap. The coupler extension strap may be pulledtaught to prevent flexing and bending of the supple body portion. Thetop of the support and/or the bottom of the support may be moved tosecure the support in an offset angle. The coupler extension strap maybe an extension from the base strap assembly, such as being a continuousstrap from the base strap or the base coupler strap. The couplerextension strap may slide through a guide and when the base strap istightened through a seat anchor, it may tighten the coupler extensionstrap to provide rigidity of the body portion for effectively support aperson's body.

The summary of the invention is provided as a general introduction tosome of the embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to belimiting. Additional example embodiments including variations andalternative configurations of the invention are provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a front side perspective view of an exemplary upper bodysupport system incorporating a monolithic support.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an exemplary upper body support systemcoupled to the head rest and extending down along the back rest of thevehicle seat.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of an exemplary upper body support system asshown in FIG. 2, with a passenger being supported by the monolithicsupport.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary upper body support system.

FIG. 5 shows a back view of an exemplary upper body support system.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent anillustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner. Some of the figures may not show all of the features andcomponents of the invention for ease of illustration, but it is to beunderstood that where possible, features and components from one figuremay be included in the other figures. Further, the figures are notnecessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show detailsof particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describeelements and components described herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention.This description should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are describedherein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodimentsdescribed are only for purposes of illustrating the present inventionand should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications,combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occurto those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments,combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary upper body support system 10 includes asupport 40 having a body portion 42 that extends down a body portionlength 43 from the stabilizer portion 46. The support may be amonolithic support wherein the body portion 42 and the stabilizerportion 46 are made from a single piece of material, such as a foam. Thebody portion 42 is configured to extend down along a seat back rest toprovide support for a person's head and upper body. The stabilizerportion 46 has a length 47 that is configured to extend back over thetop of a vehicle seat to stabilize the monolithic support 40 on theseat. The body portion has a seat surface 45 that is planar and thestabilizer portion 46 has a seat surface 49 that is also planar toprevent tilting or rolling of the monolithic support 40 during use. Thewidth 41 of the body portion 42 and width of the stabilizer portion 48may be wide enough to provide effective support. The body portion 42 hasa length 43 from a bottom end 44 of the body portion to the stabilizerportion 46 that is greater than the length 47 of the stabilizer portion46, by as much as two times or more, three times or more, or even fourtimes or more. The width 41 of the body portion 42 may be about the sameas the width 47 of the stabilizer portion 46, or within about 20%, orwithin about 10%, for example. The body portion 42 may have asubstantially consistent width 41 along the length of the body portion,or along a length axis 15 of the body portion 42, wherein it does notvary by more than 20% or by more than 10% along the length of the bodyportion 42. The length axis 15 extends centrally along the length 43 ofthe body portion 42 from the bottom end 44 to the top of the bodyportion, or top 30 of the support 40. Also, the body portion 42 has afirst side 32, and an opposing second side 34 that extends a height 33from the seat surface 45 of the body portion 42. As described herein thesides of the body portion 42 may extend an effective height and may beplanar to provide adequate support of a person's head and upper body,leaning thereon.

A head rest strap assembly 50 is configured proximal to the stabilizerportion 46, such as being coupled to the seat surface 49 of thestabilizer portion 46 or seat surface 45 of the body portion 42, such asin the area between the stabilizer portion 46 and the body portion 42.The head rest strap assembly 50 is configured to secure the monolithicsupport 40 between head rests. As shown, the head rest strap assembly 50has a first strap extension 51 that is configured with a head restfastener 56, such as a buckle, that is configured to detachable attachwith the head rest fastener coupler 58, that may be configured on a headrest receiver strap 59. A head rest strap slider 54 may be used to pullthe first strap extension 51 tight after the first strap extension formsa first post loop 53, shown in FIG. 2, with the first head rest fastener56 detachably attached with the first head rest fastener coupler 58,which again may be configured on a head rest receiver strap 59. The headrest strap assembly 50 has a second strap extension 52 that also has ahead rest fastener 56′ that is configured to detachable attach with ahead rest fastener coupler 58′ that may be configured on a head restreceiver strap 59′. Again, a head rest strap slider 54′ may be used topull the second strap extension 52 tight after the second strapextension 52 forms a second post loop 53′, shown in FIG. 2, with thesecond head rest fastener 56′ detachably attached with the first headrest fastener coupler 58, which again may be configured on a head restreceiver strap 59′. As described herein, two separate head rest strapsthat form two separate post loops enable the support 40 to be configuredin a desired position laterally between head rest posts.

A base strap assembly 16 includes a pair of base straps 60, 60′ thatextend from a position proximal the base or bottom end 44 of the bodyportion 42 and each have a base fastener 62, 62′ and a base strap slider64, 64′ that can be used to tighten the respective base strap 60, 60′. Abase fastener coupler 66 is configured on a base coupler strap 65 and isconfigured to detachably attach with one of the base fasteners 62, 62′.The base strap 60, 60′ and/or the base coupler strap 65 may be extendedthrough a seat anchor of a seat and the base fastener coupler may becoupled with the base fastener 62, 62′ to form an anchor loop 63, shownin FIG. 2, extending through the seat anchor, to secure the body portionin position. A base strap slider 64, or 64′ may be used to tighten theanchor loop.

As described herein, the body portion 42 may be soft and as it may bemade out of foam, and therefore, may have a tendency to flex or bendwhen a force is applied orthogonally to the length axis of the bodyportion. To resist this deflection and to provide additional support andrigidity, a coupler extension strap 61 may extend along the length ofthe body portion 42 from the stabilizer portion 46, wherein the couplerextension strap 61 is coupled with the head rest strap assembly 50, tothe bottom end 44, or proximal the bottom end of the body portion 42,wherein it may be coupled with the base strap assembly 16. The couplerextension strap 61 may be pulled taught to prevent flexing and bendingof the supple body portion 42. The coupler extension strap 61 may slidethrough a guide and when the base strap 60 is tightened through a seatanchor, it may tighten the coupler extension strap 61 to providerigidity of the body portion 42 for effectively support a person's body

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper body support system 10 is configured andsecured to a vehicle seat 20 with the support 40 coupled to two adjacenthead rest posts 27″ and 27′ by the head rest strap assembly 50 and tothe seat anchor 29′ by the base strap assembly 16. The body portion 42extends down a substantial portion of the height 23 of the back rest 24,or about 60% or more, about 75% or more, about 90% or more, and anyrange between and including the percentages provided. Note that a spacebetween the bottom end 44 of the support 40 and the seat portion 28 ofthe vehicle seat 20 may allow easier manipulation of the base straps orthe base coupler strap, for extending them through a seat anchor. Also,this space enables the body portion 42 to be angled an offset angle 73,wherein the length axis 15 of the body portion is offset from a verticalaxis 14.

The vehicle seat 20 has a top 22, a back rest 24 that extends down fromthe top 22, six head rest posts 27, 27′, 27″, 27′″, 27″″, and 27′″″ thatextend up from the top 22, and three head rests 26, 26′, and 26″connected to the head rest posts. Each of the three head rests isconnected to two of the head rest posts. Four seat anchors 29, 29′, 29″,and 29′″ are also shown being configured between the back rest 24portion of the seat and seat portion 28 of the seat. The seat anchors29, 29′, 29″, and 29′″ are exposed portions of the frame of the vehicleseat 20 that are each a portion of material that forms a fully closed orpartially closed loop. The seat anchors 29, 29′, 29″, and 29′″ aretypically configured down between back rest 24 and seat portion 28 andtherefore are shown in dashed lines, as they are hidden during use.

The body portion 42 of the monolithic support 40 is positioned againstthe back rest 24 of the vehicle seat 20, and the stabilizer portion 46of the monolithic support 40 is pulled tight down on top of the top 22of the vehicle seat 20. The first strap extension 51 and second strapextension 52 of the head rest strap system 50 are each wrapped around ahead rest post 27′ and 27″, to form a first post loop 53 and second postloop 53′, respectively. The length of the first post loop 53 and secondpost loop 53′ may be adjusted to move the stabilizer portion 46laterally between the head rest posts. The first strap extension 51 andsecond strap extension 52 are coupled to respective head rest fastenercouplers (not shown).

The first base strap 60 is configured through one of the seat anchors29′ and is coupled to the base fastener coupler 66 on the base couplerstrap 65 to form an anchor loop 63, to secure the bottom end 44 of thebody portion 42 and the monolithic support 40 in place. The second basestrap 60′ is not in use, and therefore the base fastener 62′ of thesecond base strap 60′ hangs freely from the second base strap 60′.

The support 40 and the body portion 42 are configured at an offset angle73, wherein the length axis of the body portion 15 extends said offsetangle to the vertical axis 14. The bottom end 44 of the support 40 ispulled toward the seat anchor 29′ by the first base strap 60 and the top30 of the support, or the stabilizer portion 46 is pulled toward thehead rest post 27″ by the first second strap extension 52. This offsetangle 73 may provide a more comfortable angel for supporting a person'supper body.

As shown in FIG. 3, a passenger 80, a child, is sitting on the seatportion 28 of the vehicle seat 20 and the passenger's upper body ortorso 82 and head 84 are resting on the first side 32 of the bodyportion 42. The height of the first side 32 and planar extension of thefirst side 32 provide effective support of the passenger's head 84 andtorso 82.

The vehicle seat 20 further comprises three seatbelts 70, 70′, and 70″,as well as three seatbelt receivers 72, 72′, and 72″. The first seatbelt70 is coupled to the first seatbelt receiver 72 and is configured aroundthe passenger 80. Note that by using the seat anchor 29′ to secure thebottom end 44 of the body portion 42 in place, all the seatbeltreceivers 72, 72′, and 72″ are still available for use. As shown in FIG.3, the passenger 80 rests their head 84 and a portion of their torso 82on the body portion 42 of the monolithic support 40 in order to providecomfort and support when sitting and/or sleeping in the vehicle seat 20.The monolithic support 40 is held in place by the head rest strapassembly 50 wrapped around the head rest posts 27′ and 27″, as well asthe anchor loop 63 configured through the seat anchor 29′. The secondbase strap 60′ is not used and therefore the base fastener 62′ of thesecond base strap 60′ hangs freely from the second baste strap 60′.Neither base fastener 62 and 62′ is coupled to any of the seatbeltreceivers 72, 72′, and 72″, as the base fasteners 62 and 62′ are notshaped or size appropriately to couple with the seatbelt receivers 72,72′, and 72″.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper body support system 10 iscoupled to head rest posts 27′, 27″ by the head rest strap assembly 50,wherein the first strap extension 51 and second strap extension 52extend to form post loops around the head rest posts 27′, 27″. Each ofthe first strap extension 51 and second strap extension 52 has a headrest fastener 56, 56′, respectively, that is detachably attached to ahead rest fastener coupler 58, 58′. As shown in FIG. 4, the stabilizerportion 46 of the monolithic support 40 rests on top of the top 22 ofthe vehicle seat 20. The first strap extension 51 is wrapped around thehead rest post 27′ of the first head rest 26, and the second strapextension 52 is wrapped around the head rest post 27″ of the second headrest 26′. The head rest fastener 56 is inserted into the head restfastener coupler 58 to form a loop around the head rest post 27′.Likewise, the second strap extension 52 is wrapped around the head restpost 27″ of the head rest 26′. The head rest fastener 56′ is insertedinto the head rest fastener coupler 58′ to form a post loop around thehead rest post 27″.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the upper body support system 10 that shows thecoupling of the first strap extension 51 and second strap extension 52of the head rest strap 50.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations and variations can be made in the presentinvention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specificembodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified,and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that thepresent invention cover the modifications, combinations and variationsof this invention provided they come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An upper body support system for a vehicle seatcomprising: a) said vehicle seat comprising: i) a top, ii) a back rest,iii) a first head rest having a first head rest post; iv) a second headrest having a second head rest post; and v) a seat anchor; b) amonolithic support comprising: i) body portion; and ii) a stabilizerportion that extends orthogonally from said body portion; wherein themonolithic support is configured on said vehicle seat with thestabilizer portion extending over said top of said vehicle seat and withthe stabilizer portion extending down along the back rest of saidvehicle seat; wherein the body portion extends from the stabilizerportion down to a bottom end; c) a head rest strap assembly that iscoupled to the monolithic support and forms a first post loop thatextends around said first head rest post and a second post loop thatextends around said second head rest post, said head rest strap assemblycomprising: i) a first strap extension; ii) a first head rest fastenerconfigured on the first strap extension; iii) a first head rest fastenercoupler; iv) a second strap extension; i) a second head rest fastenerconfigured on the second strap extension; ii) a second head restfastener coupler; wherein the first strap extension is detachablyattached to the first head rest fastener coupler to form said first postloop around said first head rest post; and wherein the second strapextension is detachably attached to the second head rest fastenercoupler to form said second post loop around said second head rest post;d) a base strap assembly comprising: i) a first base strap; ii) a firstbase fastener configured on the first base strap; iii) a base fastenercoupler coupled to the body portion; wherein an anchor loop is formed bythe first base strap detachably attached to the base fastener coupler,and wherein said anchor loop extends through said seat anchor to securethe monolithic support to said anchor.
 2. The upper body support systemof claim 1, wherein the head rest strap assembly further comprises acoupler extension strap that extends from the head rest strap assemblyto the base strap assembly.
 3. The upper body support system of claim 2,wherein the coupler extension strap extends from the base strap, whereinthe base strap and the coupler extension strap are a continuous strap.4. The upper body support system of claim 1, wherein the base strapassembly further comprises a first base strap slider coupled with thefirst base strap and configured to adjust a length of the anchor loop.5. The upper body support system of claim 1, wherein the base strapassembly further comprises a base coupler strap and wherein the basefastener coupler is configured on said base coupler strap.
 6. The upperbody support system of claim 1, wherein the base strap assembly furthercomprises a second base strap comprising a second base fastenerconfigured on the second base strap and configured to detachably attachto the base fastener coupler.
 7. The upper body support system of claim6, wherein the base strap assembly further comprises a base couplerstrap and wherein the base fastener coupler is configured on said basecoupler strap.
 8. The upper body support system of claim 7, wherein thebase strap assembly further comprises a base strap slider coupled withthe anchor loop and configured to adjust a length of the anchor loop. 9.The upper body support system of claim 1, wherein the head rest strapassembly further comprises: a first head rest strap slider coupled withthe first post loop and configured to adjust a length of the first postloop; a second head rest strap slider coupled with the second post loopand configured to adjust a length of the second post loop.
 10. The upperbody support system of claim 9, wherein the first post loop is at least20% longer than said second post loop.
 11. The upper body support systemof claim 1, wherein the body portion has a length of 300 mm or more. 12.The upper body support system of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer portionhas a length of 150 mm or more.
 13. The upper body support system ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion has a width across the seat surface of75 mm or more.
 14. The upper body support system of claim 13, whereinthe stabilizer portion has a width across the top-seat surface of 75 mmor more.
 15. The upper body support system of claim 1, wherein the bodyportion has height of 75 mm or more.
 16. The upper body support systemof claim 1, wherein the body portion has a first side and a second sideand wherein a height of said first side and a height of said second sideare each 75 mm or more.
 17. The upper body support system of claim 16,wherein the first side and second side are planar surfaces.
 18. Theupper body support system of claim 1, wherein the monolithic support ismade from a single piece of foam that forms the stabilizer portion andthe body portion.
 19. The upper body support system of claim 1, furthercomprising a cover configured over monolithic support.
 20. The upperbody support system of claim 1, wherein the base fasteners areconfigured not to insert into a seatbelt receiver.